Operating a voice response system in a multiuser environment

ABSTRACT

Methods, systems and computer program products for operating a voice response system in a multiuser environment are provided. Aspects include receiving a voice command from a first user and determining an identity of the first user based at least in part on a voice recognition of the first user. Aspects also include determining an identity of one or more other users in range of the voice response system and obtaining a command hierarchy. Aspects further include performing an action requested by the voice command based on a determination that the first user is authorized to request the voice command, wherein the determination that the first user is authorized to request the voice command is based at least upon the identity of the first user, the identity of one or more other users in range of the voice response system and the command hierarchy.

BACKGROUND

The invention relates generally to operating a voice response system and, more specifically, to operating a voice response system in a multiuser environment.

Voice response systems are becoming ubiquitous and are currently used to control a wide variety of devices, such as televisions, personal assistants, home network devices, thermostats, entertainment systems, and the like. Voice response systems monitor the audio for a voice command and responsively perform an action indicated by the voice command. However, in a multi-user scenario, multiple people can speak out various voice commands at a time, which can cause the voice response system to miss commands and can cause users to waste time requesting to reverse previously taken actions.

In one example, family members are watching a voice operated television and a child speaks a command requesting a change of the channel but the father does not want the channel changed. In this case, the television will change the channel and the father must then request that the television return to the previous channel.

SUMMARY

According to an embodiment, a system for operating a voice response system in a multiuser environment is provided. The system includes a memory having computer readable computer instructions, and a processor for executing the computer readable instructions. The computer readable instructions include instructions for receiving a voice command from a first user and determining an identity of the first user based at least in part on a voice recognition of the first user. The computer readable instructions also include instructions for determining an identity of one or more other users in range of the voice response system and obtaining a command hierarchy. The computer readable instructions further include instructions for performing an action requested by the voice command based on a determination that the first user is authorized to request the voice command, wherein the determination that the first user is authorized to request the voice command is based at least upon the identity of the first user, the identity of one or more other users in range of the voice response system and the command hierarchy.

According to another embodiment, a method for operating a voice response system in a multiuser environment is provided. The method includes receiving a voice command from a first user and determining an identity of the first user based at least in part on a voice recognition of the first user. The method also includes determining an identity of one or more other users in range of the voice response system and obtaining a command hierarchy. The method further includes performing an action requested by the voice command based on a determination that the first user is authorized to request the voice command, wherein the determination that the first user is authorized to request the voice command is based at least upon the identity of the first user, the identity of one or more other users in range of the voice response system and the command hierarchy.

According to a further embodiment, a computer program product is provided. The computer program product includes a computer readable storage medium having program instructions embodied therewith. The computer readable storage medium is not a transitory signal per se. The program instructions are executable by a computer processor to cause the computer processor to perform a method. The method includes receiving a voice command from a first user and determining an identity of the first user based at least in part on a voice recognition of the first user. The method also includes determining an identity of one or more other users in range of the voice response system and obtaining a command hierarchy. The method further includes performing an action requested by the voice command based on a determination that the first user is authorized to request the voice command, wherein the determination that the first user is authorized to request the voice command is based at least upon the identity of the first user, the identity of one or more other users in range of the voice response system and the command hierarchy.

Additional features and advantages are realized through the techniques of the invention. Other embodiments and aspects of the invention are described in detail herein and are considered a part of the claimed invention. For a better understanding of the invention with the advantages and the features, refer to the description and to the drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The subject matter which is regarded as the invention is particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed in the claims at the conclusion of the specification. The forgoing and other features, and advantages of the invention are apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 depicts a cloud computing environment according to one or more embodiments of the present invention;

FIG. 2 depicts abstraction model layers according to one or more embodiments of the present invention;

FIG. 3 depicts an exemplary computer system capable of implementing one or more embodiments of the present invention;

FIG. 4 depicts a system upon which operating a voice response system in a multiuser environment may be implemented according to one or more embodiments of the present invention;

FIG. 5 depicts a flow diagram of a method for operating a voice response system in a multiuser environment according to one or more embodiments of the present invention; and

FIG. 6 depicts a flow diagram of another method for operating a voice response system in a multiuser environment according to one or more embodiments of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Various embodiments of the invention are described herein with reference to the related drawings. Alternative embodiments of the invention can be devised without departing from the scope of this invention. Various connections and positional relationships (e.g., over, below, adjacent, etc.) are set forth between elements in the following description and in the drawings. These connections and/or positional relationships, unless specified otherwise, can be direct or indirect, and the present invention is not intended to be limiting in this respect. Accordingly, a coupling of entities can refer to either a direct or an indirect coupling, and a positional relationship between entities can be a direct or indirect positional relationship. Moreover, the various tasks and process steps described herein can be incorporated into a more comprehensive procedure or process having additional steps or functionality not described in detail herein.

The following definitions and abbreviations are to be used for the interpretation of the claims and the specification. As used herein, the terms “comprises,” “comprising,” “includes,” “including,” “has,” “having,” “contains” or “containing,” or any other variation thereof, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion. For example, a composition, a mixture, process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises a list of elements is not necessarily limited to only those elements but can include other elements not expressly listed or inherent to such composition, mixture, process, method, article, or apparatus.

Additionally, the term “exemplary” is used herein to mean “serving as an example, instance or illustration.” Any embodiment or design described herein as “exemplary” is not necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over other embodiments or designs. The terms “at least one” and “one or more” may be understood to include any integer number greater than or equal to one, i.e. one, two, three, four, etc. The terms “a plurality” may be understood to include any integer number greater than or equal to two, i.e. two, three, four, five, etc. The term “connection” may include both an indirect “connection” and a direct “connection.”

The terms “about,” “substantially,” “approximately,” and variations thereof, are intended to include the degree of error associated with measurement of the particular quantity based upon the equipment available at the time of filing the application. For example, “about” can include a range of ±8% or 5%, or 2% of a given value.

For the sake of brevity, conventional techniques related to making and using aspects of the invention may or may not be described in detail herein. In particular, various aspects of computing systems and specific computer programs to implement the various technical features described herein are well known. Accordingly, in the interest of brevity, many conventional implementation details are only mentioned briefly herein or are omitted entirely without providing the well-known system and/or process details.

It is to be understood that although this disclosure includes a detailed description on cloud computing, implementation of the teachings recited herein are not limited to a cloud computing environment. Rather, embodiments of the present invention are capable of being implemented in conjunction with any other type of computing environment now known or later developed.

Cloud computing is a model of service delivery for enabling convenient, on-demand network access to a shared pool of configurable computing resources (e.g., networks, network bandwidth, servers, processing, memory, storage, applications, virtual machines, and services) that can be rapidly provisioned and released with minimal management effort or interaction with a provider of the service. This cloud model may include at least five characteristics, at least three service models, and at least four deployment models.

Characteristics are as follows:

On-demand self-service: a cloud consumer can unilaterally provision computing capabilities, such as server time and network storage, as needed automatically without requiring human interaction with the service's provider.

Broad network access: capabilities are available over a network and accessed through standard mechanisms that promote use by heterogeneous thin or thick client platforms (e.g., mobile phones, laptops, and PDAs).

Resource pooling: the provider's computing resources are pooled to serve multiple consumers using a multi-tenant model, with different physical and virtual resources dynamically assigned and reassigned according to demand. There is a sense of location independence in that the consumer generally has no control or knowledge over the exact location of the provided resources but may be able to specify location at a higher level of abstraction (e.g., country, state, or datacenter).

Rapid elasticity: capabilities can be rapidly and elastically provisioned, in some cases automatically, to quickly scale out and rapidly released to quickly scale in. To the consumer, the capabilities available for provisioning often appear to be unlimited and can be purchased in any quantity at any time.

Measured service: cloud systems automatically control and optimize resource use by leveraging a metering capability at some level of abstraction appropriate to the type of service (e.g., storage, processing, bandwidth, and active user accounts). Resource usage can be monitored, controlled, and reported, providing transparency for both the provider and consumer of the utilized service.

Service Models are as follows:

Software as a Service (SaaS): the capability provided to the consumer is to use the provider's applications running on a cloud infrastructure. The applications are accessible from various client devices through a thin client interface such as a web browser (e.g., web-based e-mail). The consumer does not manage or control the underlying cloud infrastructure including network, servers, operating systems, storage, or even individual application capabilities, with the possible exception of limited user-specific application configuration settings.

Platform as a Service (PaaS): the capability provided to the consumer is to deploy onto the cloud infrastructure consumer-created or acquired applications created using programming languages and tools supported by the provider. The consumer does not manage or control the underlying cloud infrastructure including networks, servers, operating systems, or storage, but has control over the deployed applications and possibly application hosting environment configurations.

Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS): the capability provided to the consumer is to provision processing, storage, networks, and other fundamental computing resources where the consumer is able to deploy and run arbitrary software, which can include operating systems and applications. The consumer does not manage or control the underlying cloud infrastructure but has control over operating systems; storage, deployed applications, and possibly limited control of select networking components (e.g., host firewalls).

Deployment Models are as follows:

Private cloud: the cloud infrastructure is operated solely for an organization. It may be managed by the organization or a third party and may exist, on-premises or off-premises.

Community cloud: the cloud infrastructure is shared by several organizations and supports a specific community that has shared concerns (e.g., mission, security requirements, policy, and compliance considerations). It may be managed by the organizations or a third party and may exist, on-premises or off-premises.

Public cloud: the cloud infrastructure is made available to the general public or a large industry group and is owned by an organization selling cloud services.

Hybrid cloud: the cloud infrastructure is a composition of two or more clouds (private, community, or public) that remain unique entities but are bound together by standardized or proprietary technology that enables data and application portability (e.g., cloud bursting for load-balancing between clouds).

A cloud computing environment is service oriented with a focus on statelessness, low coupling, modularity, and semantic interoperability. At the heart of cloud computing is an infrastructure that includes a network of interconnected nodes.

Referring now to FIG. 1, illustrative cloud computing environment 50 is depicted. As shown, cloud computing environment 50 includes one or more cloud computing nodes 10 with which local computing devices used by cloud consumers, such as, for example, personal digital assistant (PDA) or cellular telephone 54A, desktop computer 54B, laptop computer 54C, and/or automobile computer system 54N may communicate. Nodes 10 may communicate with one another. They may be grouped (not shown) physically or virtually, in one or more networks, such as Private, Community, Public, or Hybrid clouds as described hereinabove, or a combination thereof. This allows cloud computing environment 50 to offer infrastructure, platforms and/or software as services for which a cloud consumer does not need to maintain resources on a local computing device. It is understood that the types of computing devices 54A-N shown in FIG. 1 are intended to be illustrative only and that computing nodes 10 and cloud computing environment 50 can communicate with any type of computerized device over any type of network and/or network addressable connection (e.g., using a web browser).

Referring now to FIG. 2, a set of functional abstraction layers provided by cloud computing environment 50 (FIG. 1) is shown. It should be understood in advance that the components, layers, and functions shown in FIG. 2 are intended to be illustrative only and embodiments of the invention are not limited thereto. As depicted, the following layers and corresponding functions are provided:

Hardware and software layer 60 includes hardware and software components. Examples of hardware components include: mainframes 61; RISC (Reduced Instruction Set Computer) architecture based servers 62; servers 63; blade servers 64; storage devices 65; and networks and networking components 66. In some embodiments, software components include network application server software 67 and database software 68.

Virtualization layer 70 provides an abstraction layer from which the following examples of virtual entities may be provided: virtual servers 71; virtual storage 72; virtual networks 73, including virtual private networks; virtual applications and operating systems 74; and virtual clients 75.

In one example, management layer 80 may provide the functions described below. Resource provisioning 81 provides dynamic procurement of computing resources and other resources that are utilized to perform tasks within the cloud computing environment. Metering and Pricing 82 provide cost tracking as resources are utilized within the cloud computing environment, and billing or invoicing for consumption of these resources. In one example, these resources may include application software licenses. Security provides identity verification for cloud consumers and tasks, as well as protection for data and other resources. User portal 83 provides access to the cloud computing environment for consumers and system administrators. Service level management 84 provides cloud computing resource allocation and management such that required service levels are met. Service Level Agreement (SLA) planning and fulfillment 85 provides pre-arrangement for, and procurement of, cloud computing resources for which a future requirement is anticipated in accordance with an SLA.

Workloads layer 90 provides examples of functionality for which the cloud computing environment may be utilized. Examples of workloads and functions which may be provided from this layer include: mapping and navigation 91; software development and lifecycle management 92; virtual classroom education delivery 93; data analytics processing 94; transaction processing 95; and operating a voice response system in a multiuser environment 96.

Turning now to a more detailed description of aspects of the present invention, FIG. 3 illustrates a high-level block diagram showing an example of a computer-based system 300 useful for implementing one or more embodiments of the invention. Although one exemplary computer system 300 is shown, computer system 300 includes a communication path 326, which connects computer system 300 to additional systems and may include one or more wide area networks (WANs) and/or local area networks (LANs) such as the internet, intranet(s), and/or wireless communication network(s). Computer system 300 and additional systems are in communication via communication path 326, (e.g., to communicate data between them).

Computer system 300 includes one or more processors, such as processor 302. Processor 302 is connected to a communication infrastructure 304 (e.g., a communications bus, cross-over bar, or network). Computer system 300 can include a display interface 306 that forwards graphics, text, and other data from communication infrastructure 304 (or from a frame buffer not shown) for display on a display unit 308. Computer system 300 also includes a main memory 310, preferably random access memory (RAM), and may also include a secondary memory 312. Secondary memory 312 may include, for example, a hard disk drive 314 and/or a removable storage drive 316, representing, for example, a floppy disk drive, a magnetic tape drive, or an optical disk drive. Removable storage drive 316 reads from and/or writes to a removable storage unit 318 in a manner well known to those having ordinary skill in the art. Removable storage unit 318 represents, for example, a floppy disk, a compact disc, a magnetic tape, or an optical disk, etc. which is read by and written to by a removable storage drive 316. As will be appreciated, removable storage unit 318 includes a computer readable medium having stored therein computer software and/or data.

In some alternative embodiments of the invention, secondary memory 312 may include other similar means for allowing computer programs or other instructions to be loaded into the computer system. Such means may include, for example, a removable storage unit 320 and an interface 322. Examples of such means may include a program package and package interface (such as that found in video game devices), a removable memory chip (such as an EPROM or PROM) and associated socket, and other removable storage units 320 and interfaces 322 which allow software and data to be transferred from the removable storage unit 320 to computer system 300.

Computer system 300 may also include a communications interface 324. Communications interface 324 allows software and data to be transferred between the computer system and external devices. Examples of communications interface 324 may include a modem, a network interface (such as an Ethernet card), a communications port, or a PCM-CIA slot and card, etc. Software and data transferred via communications interface 324 are in the form of signals which may be, for example, electronic, electromagnetic, optical, or other signals capable of being received by communications interface 324. These signals are provided to communications interface 324 via communication path (i.e., channel) 326. Communication path 326 carries signals and may be implemented using wire or cable, fiber optics, a phone line, a cellular phone link, an RF link, and/or other communications channels.

In the present disclosure, the terms “computer program medium,” “computer usable medium,” and “computer readable medium” are used to generally refer to media such as main memory 310 and secondary memory 312, removable storage drive 316, and a hard disk installed in hard disk drive 314. Computer programs (also called computer control logic) are stored in main memory 310, and/or secondary memory 312. Computer programs may also be received via communications interface 324. Such computer programs, when run, enable the computer system to perform the features of the present disclosure as discussed herein. In particular, the computer programs, when run, enable processor 302 to perform the features of the computer system. Accordingly, such computer programs represent controllers of the computer system.

In exemplary embodiments, a system for operating a voice response system in a multiuser environment is provided. In exemplary embodiments, a voice response system is configured to identify the voice of a user that provides a voice command and to determine whether the voice response system is authorized to perform the requested action based on the identity of the user that made the request, the identity of other nearby users and a command hierarchy. The command hierarchy can be created by a primary user of the voice response system or it can be generated by the voice response system using machine learning techniques. The voice response system will use the command hierarchy to determine which voice commands will be executed when multiple diverse voice commends are submitted by different users at the same point of time.

Turning now to FIG. 4, a system 400 upon which operating a voice response system in a multiuser environment may be implemented will now be described in accordance with an embodiment. The system 400 shown in FIG. 4 includes a server 410 in communication with a user device 420 via a communications network 415. The communications network 415 may be one or more of, or a combination of, public (e.g., Internet), private (e.g., local area network, wide area network, virtual private network), and may include wireless and wireline transmission systems (e.g., satellite, cellular network, terrestrial networks, etc.). The user device 420 is configured to receive voice commands from one or more users 402 in range of the user device 420.

In exemplary embodiments, the user device 420 can be a smartphone, a tablet, a computer system such as the one shown in FIG. 3, a smart speaker, a television, or any other suitable electronic device. The user device 420 includes a microphone 421 and a media player 422 capable of playing a media item. Optionally, the user device 420 can also include a local database 423, a user interface 424, a user identification engine 425, and a camera 426. The microphone 421 is used to detect voice commands for the user device 420 and the media player 422 is used responsively play a media items in response to the voice commands. The media item may be audio and/or video content. In exemplary embodiments, the local database 423 is configured to store voice samples and/or images of authorized users of the user device 420. The user identification engine 425 can include a voice recognition engine that is configured to compare received voice commands to stored voice samples in the local database 423. Likewise, the user identification engine 425 can include a facial recognition engine that is configured to compare images, which are captured by the camera 426, of users to stored images in the local database 423. The user interface 424 can be a graphical user interface such as a touchscreen, a keyboard, or the like that can be used to create a command hierarchy. In exemplary embodiments, the command hierarchy can be stored in the local database 423.

In various embodiments, the voice samples and/or images of authorized users of the user device 420 can be stored in the local database 423 and/or the server database 412. Likewise, the identification of a user can be performed by the user identification engine 425 of the user device 420 or by the user identification engine 411 of the server 410. The server 410 can be implemented as a computer system such as the one shown in FIG. 3 or as a cloud based system such as the one shown in FIGS. 1 & 2. In embodiments where the server 410 is configured to perform user identification and to store audio files and images of the authorized users, the user device 420 is configured to capture audio files and/or images of the users and to transmit them to the server 410.

In exemplary embodiments, machine learning can be used to create the command hierarchy based on biometric and visual recognition based health condition of the users. For example, if one user is visibly sick and other user wants to increase the volume of the TV program, then sick person's voice command can be given priority. The command hierarchy among the users can also be based on the time of the day, or day of the week, that the command was received. Furthermore, the command hierarchy among the users can also be based on the current level of interest of the users for the media item being played.

Turning now to FIG. 5, a flow diagram of a method 500 for operating a voice response system in a multiuser environment in accordance with an embodiment is shown. The method 500 begins at block 502 and receives a voice command from a user at block 504. Next, as shown at block 506, the user is identified. The user can be identified based on an analysis of an image or captured voice of the user. Next, as shown at decision block 508, the method 500 includes determining if other users are present. If no other users are present, the method 500 proceeds to block 510 and performs the requested action. Otherwise, the method 500 proceeds to block 512 and identifies the other users present. The other users can be identified based on an analysis of images or captured voices of the other users.

Continuing with reference to FIG. 5, the method 500 includes obtaining a command hierarchy, as shown at block 514. Based on the command hierarchy and the identity of the users present, the method 500 may proceed to either decision block 516 or 518. For example, the command hierarchy may generally indicate that various actions cannot be performed at the request of a first user when a second user is present but it may allow that those actions to be performed when the second user is present but is not paying attention to the voice command system. At decision block 516, the method 500 determines if the other users present are paying attention to the voice command system. If the other users are determined to be paying attention to the voice command system, the method 500 proceeds to decision block 518 and determines if the requested action is authorized. If the requested action is authorized, the method performs the requested action, as shown at block 510. Otherwise, the method 500 ends as shown at block 522. If, as shown at decision block 516, the other users are determined to not be paying attention, the method 500 proceeds to block 520 and performs a second action in addition to performing the requested action at block 510.

For example, if a father is watching a football game and a child asks the voice controlled television to change the channel, the command hierarchy for the voice controlled television generally provides that the child is not authorized to request this action when the father is present. However, if the father is not paying attention to the command voice controlled television, the child may be authorized to change the channel but the voice controlled television will be instructed to begin recording the football game and will be able to resume the game at the point at which the channel was changed upon the request of the father.

In exemplary embodiments, the command hierarchy can be created using machine learning by analyzing various voice command from a multiuser scenario and tracking how the commands are overridden by another user. The machine learning system will gather the usage data for an extended time period to understand whose command to follow and whose commands are ignored. For example, if a voice command is submitted by a user, then the voice response system will identify who has submitted the voice command based on voice recognition, and if the meantime, another voice command is submitted by another user on the same topic but opposite contextual sense, the voice response system will identify the priority user and accordingly priority user's voice command will be executed.

In exemplary embodiments, if the voice response system identifies any ambiguity in the received commands, the voice response system will initiate a poll from each of the users present in the surrounding and the majority of the command will be executed. In another embodiment, upon receiving a voice command from a first user to perform a task when a second user is present, where the second user has a higher priority, the voice response system will ask the second user for authorization to perform the requested action.

Turning now to FIG. 6, a flow diagram of a method 600 for operating a voice response system in a multiuser environment in accordance with an embodiment is shown. As shown at block 602, the method 600 includes receiving, by the voice response system, a voice command from a first user. Next, as shown at block 604, the method 600 includes determining an identity of the first user based at least in part on a voice recognition of the first user. In exemplary embodiments, the voice response system may include a user voice database that includes a voice sample from each authorized user of the voice response system that is used to identify a user that provided the voice command.

Next, as shown at block 606, the method 600 includes determining an identity of one or more other users in range of the voice response system. In exemplary embodiments, the voice response system can determine the identity of one or more other users in range of the voice response system by capturing voice samples of the one or more other users or by capturing images of the environment of the voice response system. The voice response system then analyses the captured voice samples and/or images to determine if another known individual is in range of the voice response system. The method 600 also includes obtaining, by the voice response system, a command hierarchy, as shown at block 608. The command hierarchy is a priority ranking for each of a plurality of individual authorized to control the voice response system. For example, the command hierarchy may specify a primary user that authorized to request any action regardless of what other users are in the room and a secondary user that is authorized to request any action unless a primary user is present. In exemplary embodiments, the command hierarchy further includes a listing of actions that each user is authorized to request based on a presence of the one or more other users in range of the voice response system.

The method 600 also includes performing, by the voice response system, an action requested by the voice command based on a determination that the first user is authorized to request the voice command, as shown at block 610. The determination that the first user is authorized to request the voice command is based at least upon the identity of the first user, the identity of one or more other users in range of the voice response system and the command hierarchy.

In one example, if a user requests an action and they are the only user present, the voice response system will execute the action unless the command hierarchy indicates that the user is not authorized to perform that action. For instance, a child may be alone and watching a voice activated television and may request that the television change the channel to a specific channel. The television would then obtain the command hierarchy and determine if the child is permitted to watch the requested channel at the time of the request. The command hierarchy can indicate that the child is permitted to watch a predefined list of television channels only during a specific time period, i.e., age appropriate content between noon and 8:00 pm. Accordingly, if the time it outside of the allowed time period and/or the requested channel is not on the predefined list of television channels, the television will not perform the requested action.

In another example, if a first user requests an action and they are not the only user present, the voice response system will determine the identity of the other users present and execute the action unless the command hierarchy indicates that the user is not authorized to perform that action. For instance, a child may be watching television with their parents in the room may request that the television change the channel to a specific channel. The television would then obtain the command hierarchy and determine if the child is permitted to request the change of channel with the parents present in the room. If the child is not permitted to request the change of channel with the parents in the room, the television will not perform the requested action.

In exemplary embodiments, the method can also include determining an attention level of the one or more other users in range of the voice response system and the determination that the first user is authorized to request the voice command is further based upon the attention level of one or more other users in range of the voice response system. The attention level of the one or more other users is determined based on analysis of video of the one or more other users captured by the voice response system. In one example, if a child is watching television with their parents in the room but the parents are talking to each other and not watching the television, the child may be authorized to change the channel. In such a case, the television can be configured to perform a second action that was not specifically requested by the child in addition to changing the channel. For example, the television may start recording the channel that is being switched off, such that the parents could go back and watch that channel at a later time.

In one embodiment, the voice response system can be configured to identify a type of user based on the clothing that the user is wearing, i.e., an emergency service person (EMT/police/firefighter). In this embodiment, the emergency service person can be given priority over any ordinary citizen, even the primary user of the device.

Technical benefits include an improved functionality of voice response systems that are able to distinguish between the voices of users and that recognize which commands to execute and which to ignore. By ignoring commands from unauthorized users, the user experience of authorized users is improved as the authorized user no longer has to issue commands to reverse actions taken by unauthorized users.

The present invention may be a system, a method, and/or a computer program product. The computer program product may include a computer readable storage medium (or media) having computer readable program instructions thereon for causing a processor to carry out aspects of the present invention.

The computer readable storage medium can be a tangible device that can retain and store instructions for use by an instruction execution device. The computer readable storage medium may be, for example, but is not limited to, an electronic storage device, a magnetic storage device, an optical storage device, an electromagnetic storage device, a semiconductor storage device, or any suitable combination of the foregoing. A non-exhaustive list of more specific examples of the computer readable storage medium includes the following: a portable computer diskette, a hard disk, a random access memory (RAM), a read-only memory (ROM), an erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM or Flash memory), a static random access memory (SRAM), a portable compact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM), a digital versatile disk (DVD), a memory stick, a floppy disk, a mechanically encoded device such as punch-cards or raised structures in a groove having instructions recorded thereon, and any suitable combination of the foregoing. A computer readable storage medium, as used herein, is not to be construed as being transitory signals per se, such as radio waves or other freely propagating electromagnetic waves, electromagnetic waves propagating through a waveguide or other transmission media (e.g., light pulses passing through a fiber-optic cable), or electrical signals transmitted through a wire.

Computer readable program instructions described herein can be downloaded to respective computing/processing devices from a computer readable storage medium or to an external computer or external storage device via a network, for example, the Internet, a local area network, a wide area network and/or a wireless network. The network may comprise copper transmission cables, optical transmission fibers, wireless transmission, routers, firewalls, switches, gateway computers and/or edge servers. A network adapter card or network interface in each computing/processing device receives computer readable program instructions from the network and forwards the computer readable program instructions for storage in a computer readable storage medium within the respective computing/processing device.

Computer readable program instructions for carrying out operations of the present invention may be assembler instructions, instruction-set-architecture (ISA) instructions, machine instructions, machine dependent instructions, microcode, firmware instructions, state-setting data, or either source code or object code written in any combination of one or more programming languages, including an object oriented programming language such as Smalltalk, C++ or the like, and conventional procedural programming languages, such as the “C” programming language or similar programming languages. The computer readable program instructions may execute entirely on the user's computer, partly on the user's computer, as a stand-alone software package, partly on the user's computer and partly on a remote computer or entirely on the remote computer or server. In the latter scenario, the remote computer may be connected to the user's computer through any type of network, including a local area network (LAN) or a wide area network (WAN), or the connection may be made to an external computer (for example, through the Internet using an Internet Service Provider). In some embodiments, electronic circuitry including, for example, programmable logic circuitry, field-programmable gate arrays (FPGA), or programmable logic arrays (PLA) may execute the computer readable program instructions by utilizing state information of the computer readable program instructions to personalize the electronic circuitry, in order to perform aspects of the present invention.

Aspects of the present invention are described herein with reference to flowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams of methods, apparatus (systems), and computer program products according to embodiments of the invention. It will be understood that each block of the flowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams, and combinations of blocks in the flowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams, can be implemented by computer readable program instructions.

These computer readable program instructions may be provided to a processor of a general purpose computer, special purpose computer, or other programmable data processing apparatus to produce a machine, such that the instructions, which execute via the processor of the computer or other programmable data processing apparatus, create means for implementing the functions/acts specified in the flowchart and/or block diagram block or blocks. These computer readable program instructions may also be stored in a computer readable storage medium that can direct a computer, a programmable data processing apparatus, and/or other devices to function in a particular manner, such that the computer readable storage medium having instructions stored therein comprises an article of manufacture including instructions which implement aspects of the function/act specified in the flowchart and/or block diagram block or blocks.

The computer readable program instructions may also be loaded onto a computer, other programmable data processing apparatus, or other device to cause a series of operational steps to be performed on the computer, other programmable apparatus or other device to produce a computer implemented process, such that the instructions which execute on the computer, other programmable apparatus, or other device implement the functions/acts specified in the flowchart and/or block diagram block or blocks.

The flowchart and block diagrams in the Figures illustrate the architecture, functionality, and operation of possible implementations of systems, methods, and computer program products according to various embodiments of the present invention. In this regard, each block in the flowchart or block diagrams may represent a module, segment, or portion of instructions, which comprises one or more executable instructions for implementing the specified logical function(s). In some alternative implementations, the functions noted in the block may occur out of the order noted in the figures. For example, two blocks shown in succession may, in fact, be executed substantially concurrently, or the blocks may sometimes be executed in the reverse order, depending upon the functionality involved. It will also be noted that each block of the block diagrams and/or flowchart illustration, and combinations of blocks in the block diagrams and/or flowchart illustration, can be implemented by special purpose hardware-based systems that perform the specified functions or acts or carry out combinations of special purpose hardware and computer instructions.

The descriptions of the various embodiments of the present invention have been presented for purposes of illustration, but are not intended to be exhaustive or limited to the embodiments disclosed. Many modifications and variations will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the described embodiments. The terminology used herein was chosen to best explain the principles of the embodiments, the practical application or technical improvement over technologies found in the marketplace, or to enable others of ordinary skill in the art to understand the embodiments disclosed herein. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A method for operating a voice response system in a multiuser environment, comprising: receiving, by the voice response system, a voice command from a first user; determining an identity of the first user based at least in part on a voice recognition of the first user; determining an identity of one or more other users in range of the voice response system; obtaining, by the voice response system, a command hierarchy; performing, by the voice response system, an action requested by the voice command based on a determination that the first user is authorized to request the voice command, wherein the determination that the first user is authorized to request the voice command is based at least upon the identity of the first user, the identity of one or more other users in range of the voice response system and the command hierarchy.
 2. The method of claim 1, further comprising: determining an attention level of the one or more other users in range of the voice response system; and wherein the determination that the first user is authorized to request the voice command is further based upon the attention level of one or more other users in range of the voice response system.
 3. The method of claim 2, wherein the attention level of the one or more other users is determined based on analysis of video of the one or more other users captured by the voice response system.
 4. The method of claim 1, further comprising: performing, by the voice response system, a second action based the voice command, the identity of the first user, the command hierarchy, and the identity of one or more other users in range of the voice response system.
 5. The method of claim 1, further comprising: asking, by the voice response system, a second user selected from the one or more other users in range of the voice response system for authorization to perform the action requested by the voice command based on a determination that the second user has a higher priority ranking in the command hierarchy than the first user.
 6. The method of claim 1, wherein the command hierarchy includes a priority ranking for each of a plurality of individual authorized to control the voice response system.
 7. The method of claim 6, wherein the command hierarchy further includes a listing of actions that each of the plurality of individual are authorized to request based on a presence of the one or more other users in range of the voice response system.
 8. A system for operating a voice response system in a multiuser environment, comprising: a memory having computer readable instructions; and a processor for executing the computer readable instructions, the computer readable instructions including instructions for: receiving a voice command from a first user; determining an identity of the first user based at least in part on a voice recognition of the first user; determining an identity of one or more other users in range of the voice response system; obtaining, by the voice response system, a command hierarchy; performing an action requested by the voice command based on a determination that the first user is authorized to request the voice command, wherein the determination that the first user is authorized to request the voice command is based at least upon the identity of the first user, the identity of one or more other users in range of the voice response system and the command hierarchy.
 9. The system of claim 8, wherein the computer readable instructions further include instructions for: determining an attention level of the one or more other users in range of the voice response system; and wherein the determination that the first user is authorized to request the voice command is further based upon the attention level of one or more other users in range of the voice response system.
 10. The system of claim 9, wherein the attention level of the one or more other users is determined based on analysis of video of the one or more other users captured by the voice response system.
 11. The system of claim 8, wherein the computer readable instructions further include instructions for: performing, by the voice response system, a second action based the voice command, the identity of the first user, the command hierarchy, and the identity of one or more other users in range of the voice response system.
 12. The system of claim 8, wherein the computer readable instructions further include instructions for: asking, by the voice response system, a second user selected from the one or more other users in range of the voice response system for authorization to perform the action requested by the voice command based on a determination that the second user has a higher priority ranking in the command hierarchy than the first user.
 13. The system of claim 8, wherein the command hierarchy includes a priority ranking for each of a plurality of individual authorized to control the voice response system.
 14. The system of claim 13, wherein the command hierarchy further includes a listing of actions that each of the plurality of individual are authorized to request based on a presence of the one or more other users in range of the voice response system.
 15. A computer program product comprising a computer readable storage medium having program instructions embodied therewith the program instructions executable by a computer processor to cause the computer processor to perform a method, comprising: receiving, by the voice response system, a voice command from a first user; determining an identity of the first user based at least in part on a voice recognition of the first user; determining an identity of one or more other users in range of the voice response system; obtaining, by the voice response system, a command hierarchy; performing, by the voice response system, an action requested by the voice command based on a determination that the first user is authorized to request the voice command, wherein the determination that the first user is authorized to request the voice command is based at least upon the identity of the first user, the identity of one or more other users in range of the voice response system and the command hierarchy.
 16. The computer program product of claim 15, wherein the method further comprises: determining an attention level of the one or more other users in range of the voice response system; and wherein the determination that the first user is authorized to request the voice command is further based upon the attention level of one or more other users in range of the voice response system.
 17. The computer program product of claim 16, wherein the attention level of the one or more other users is determined based on analysis of video of the one or more other users captured by the voice response system.
 18. The computer program product of claim 15, wherein the method further comprises: performing, by the voice response system, a second action based the voice command, the identity of the first user, the command hierarchy, and the identity of one or more other users in range of the voice response system.
 19. The computer program product of claim 15, wherein the method further comprises: asking, by the voice response system, a second user selected from the one or more other users in range of the voice response system for authorization to perform the action requested by the voice command based on a determination that the second user has a higher priority ranking in the command hierarchy than the first user.
 20. The computer program product of claim 15, wherein the command hierarchy includes a priority ranking for each of a plurality of individual authorized to control the voice response system. 